Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 59
Parīkṣit’s Inquiry into Vṛtrāsura’s Bhakti and the Beginning of Citraketu’s Trial
श्रीशुक उवाच विलपन्त्या मृतं पुत्रमिति चित्रविलापनै: । चित्रकेतुर्भृशं तप्तो मुक्तकण्ठो रुरोद ह ॥ ५९ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca vilapantyā mṛtaṁ putram iti citra-vilāpanaiḥ citraketur bhṛśaṁ tapto mukta-kaṇṭho ruroda ha
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī dijo: Mientras la reina lamentaba así, con variados gemidos, la muerte de su hijo, el rey Citraketu, profundamente afligido, rompió a llorar a voz en cuello.
FAQs
This verse shows even a great king like Citraketu becoming overwhelmed by sorrow at the death of his son, highlighting how powerful attachment is and setting the stage for the Bhagavatam’s guidance toward detachment and devotion.
Because the queen’s repeated, anguished lamentation—“My son is dead!”—intensified his own parental attachment, and he became deeply tormented, weeping openly without restraint.
It validates natural human grief, yet reminds us to seek higher understanding—seeing life and death as temporary—so sorrow can be transformed into spiritual reflection, prayer, and steadier devotion.